The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

L. Frank Baum

Introduced by Maria TatarIllustrated by Sara Ogilvie

In 1900, a former travelling salesman published a book about a girl from Kansas and her adventures in a strange land. It soon became one of the best-loved children’s stories of all time with generations of children growing up with Dorothy, the Wicked Witch of the West and of course Toto

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

A cyclone hits the plains of Kansas, plucking up the house where orphan Dorothy and her little dog Toto live with Aunt Em and Uncle Henry. The house is whirled high into the air, and lands, with Dorothy and Toto, in the magical land of Oz. To return home, Dorothy must find the Great Wizard of Oz, destroy the Wicked Witch of the West, and travel even further, to the powerful Good Witch of the South. Fortunately, Dorothy finds new friends and loyal companions, a Scarecrow without a brain, a Tin Woodman without a heart and a Cowardly Lion, to accompany her on her quest to the Emerald City and beyond.

Production Details

Quarter-bound in buckram with Modigliani paper sides.

Printed with a design by Sara Ogilvie.

Set in Electra with Kane display.

200 pages.

25 colour and black & white images.

Book Size: 10" x 7½".

The quintessential American fable

'Sara Ogilvie's illustrations give new life to Frank L. Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz ... A book not just for Christmas' Dinah Hall, Telegraph

It is the quintessential American fable, a story of striving, self-determination and optimism. Dorothy is the personification of youthful enterprise and resourcefulness: a girl in a strange land who finds her way home and establishes true friendships in the process. It is also a powerful story of illusion and showmanship: the Wizard is not a real magician, but a showman who spreads happiness through benign deception. This figure could well represent Baum himself and his belief in the redemptive power of the imagination.

Above all, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a spellbinding story filled with excitement. The land of Oz is beautiful, with its happy Munchkins and dazzling Emerald City, but there are also Winged Monkeys, witches, wolves and deadly poppy fields which poison the unwary. This Folio Society edition contains 25 enchanting images, including 7 double-page spreads and 10 full-page pictures. Award-winning artist Sara Ogilvie has captured all the book’s colour and charm, from the slinking, shame-faced Lion to the terrifying Kalidahs. Green-washed duotone images represent the Emerald City, and a double-page map shows the topography of Oz. In a fascinating new introduction, Harvard professor Maria Tatar explains why we, like Dorothy, are drawn to Oz time and again.

L. Frank Baum tried his hand at numerous ventures, from poultry farmer to theatre impresario, yet it was only when he began to write children’s stories that he found success. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was published in 1900, and has since become one of the most popular children’s books of all time, inspiring many sequels and the beloved MGM film of 1939.

I cannot understand why you should wish to leave this
beautiful country and go back to the dry, gray place you
call Kansas.’
‘That is because you have no brains,’ answered the girl.
‘…There is no place like home.’

Reviews

"I was hesitant to buy this copy at first, due to the bright colors used for the binding of this book, but I gave in. As I read this book, my opinion of this edition changed. I found myself sucked into..." [read more]

"I was hesitant to buy this copy at first, due to the bright colors used for the binding of this book, but I gave in. As I read this book, my opinion of this edition changed. I found myself sucked into the novel's story, and the Folio Society's edition truly enhanced this experience-- from the illustrations, which were beautifully laid throughout the novel, to the book's binding itself. The quality of this book is excellent and I am glad to have finally been able to read this novel and that I chose this edition to read. I did not give the binding a full 5 stars, as the colors are a bit too vibrant for my personal tastes. But I do think that it does compliment the book and the illustrations very well as a whole. " [hide full review]